Facing Rejection as a Married Woman: Is It Fair to Ask About Family Plans in Interviews?

Dear all, I am a recruiter with 2.11 years of experience. I got married a year ago in September, and since then, I have been attending interviews daily. However, I keep facing a common issue during interviews—the question about my family. Even though I have good experience, they reject me by giving some excuse or ask me to accept a lower salary.

One day, I lost my patience. It was during an interview at a consultancy in Mylapore. I told them that it's quite personal, and as a recruiter, one should know where to draw the line on what to ask and what not to.

Moreover, this is when your expenses start to increase, and one might feel compelled to take any job available. According to government rules, there is something called maternity leave—don't you guys follow such rules? They asked about the commitment I could give in terms of staying with them for a certain number of years in writing (meaning I won't start a family). However, to date, I haven't found a job, even after applying to top MNC companies, and it feels like a waste of my time and money.

Does this mean that a married woman is not eligible for a job? If we take a break and then come back, will they accept us? Do I have the right to sue them for asking me these questions? It's really painful to have all the skills but still face rejection.

Thank you.

Greetings,

I am sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing, but I am glad that you have moved on from dealing with such foolish employers. It's good that you will not be wasting your effort and intellect there. May I ask what job you are applying for and where you are based? I look forward to hearing from you.

I am saddened to hear that you received this kind of treatment. Please don't get disheartened. I don't know about suing, but you can definitely refuse to answer such questions. It's easy to blame the most obvious factor, but please don't. The reason may lie elsewhere. I don't have your CV nor have I spoken to you, so I cannot comment much, but I can provide you with some insights from my interactions with other women who have faced similar situations as yours.

Career Challenges and Opportunities

At the beginning of one's career, one is likely to face a lack of demand for one's skills and thus experience career stagnation. This could happen because the skills are either oversupplied or there are cheaper alternatives available. Many women have changed their career paths or pursued higher education to acquire specific skills that are highly sought after, or have taken some coaching on how to handle interviews.

Look upon this as a blessing in disguise. If you would like to send me your CV for review, you can do so at [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons].

All the best. I am sure you will find the right job.

Regards,
Geet Mala Jalota